The closure of Queenstown’s public pool on weekends due to a lifeguard shortage has highlighted a housing crisis which has left council staff living in vans and made finding workers a struggle.
Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce chairwoman Angela Spackman said finding housing for staff was an integral aspect of recruitment at present, and getting staff was the "No1 issue, really".
Hundreds of employees were struggling to find affordable, secure, long-term rental accommodation in Queenstown, while many others in such accommodation had recently been given their 90 days’ notice by landlords, who either wanted to put the property on Airbnb, for example, or sell it.
Ms Spackman said, anecdotally, she had heard stories of businesses successfully recruiting staff, but they left a short time later because they could not secure accommodation.
It was particularly difficult for families who were relocating to the resort to find a house, she said.
"Usually, if it’s just a single person, they can find somewhere to slot in, but, certainly, trying to find somewhere for a family to stay is increasingly difficult."
Ms Spackman said housing had been a long-term issue in the Wakatipu, and warned it would take a long time to find solutions.
"It’s not a quick fix.
"This is not going to be solved by one entity.
"It’s going to take a collective effort, and that’s going to be public and private."
The chamber was working on gathering some data to better quantify the issue. However, Ms Spackman said she was not aware of the same pressure anywhere else in New Zealand at present, based on conversations with other chambers in the country.
"It’s certainly not something that they’re all crying out for help on, like we are."
Queenstown Lakes District Council sport and recreation manager Simon Battrick told the Otago Daily Times yesterday, aside from Covid-related closures, it would be the first time Alpine Aqualand had not been able to keep doors open in the past six years.
The weekend closures would be indefinite.
At least three full-time lifeguards and one or two part-timers were needed to meet the required roster hours.
However, the council was struggling to find that number of staff and its employees were not immune to the accommodation crisis.
"We’ve got staff living in vans," Mr Battrick said.
Another barrier was increases to pay rates starting to come into effect from next month.
Under the accredited employer work visa, for example, any migrant worker offered employment before February 27 must be paid at least the median of $27.76.
Anyone offered work under that visa on or after February 27 must be paid at least the new median, $29.66.
When asked if sponsoring those workers would be an option, Mr Battrick was doubtful.
"I’d love to say yes, but the reality is, these are entry-level jobs ... Financially, I just can’t see us doing it."
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Glyn Lewers said for an organisation like the council, "that option’s off the table; we just can’t afford that".
On accommodation, he said the council "can’t just magic up accommodation".
"We’re trying different avenues and looking at everything."
Mr Battrick said Arrowtown Pool would close on February 13, a month earlier than scheduled, while, at present, Wanaka would be unaffected, "fingers crossed".
Alpine Aqualand’s weekend closures would be reviewed week by week.
